IMMIGRANT TO ADVOCATE I sort of fell in to nursing through my Hispanic/ Latino heritage and upbringing. I was driven by sense of community, family and loyalty to the family unit. When my family needed to access and integrate into the medical system due to an illness, I saw very quickly that we needed help. My parents did not have the education / social supports to navigate, or learn to navigate, the complexities of our healthcare system. Start - F or those who come to the US as immigrants and specifically as children, American culture is full of possibility and a sense that the sky is the limit. However, this isn’t al- ways the case particularly when our healthcare system was not built or equipped to provide culturally-centered care. CREATIVITY MEETS COMPASSION hen asked in high school what I wanted to do as a career, nursing wasn’t it. However compassion and creativity reside in my personality traits. I’ve always wanted to help others beginning in childhood. With graduation nearing and want- ing to leave my rural community I joined the Military for college money. This is where my medical career began. W I became a medic in the Army and soon enlist- ed in nursing. I used my college fund to obtain my Associates Degree as a registered nurse. I have been a nurse now for 30 years. That’s right, thirty years! I have a Bachelor’s in Science and continue to learn. I have a broad base in
ing from the fact that we did not have health insurance early on. I took it upon myself to be that advocate, that support and knew that if something had to be done, I would have to do it myself to help my family. That’s how I started my journey in learning all about integrating myself into the health care sector as a provider. Nursing has provided so much to my family and I over the years. Now I am working on advanced degrees so I can help the rest of the Latino/Hispanic community. Submitted by Karina Santos, RI
nursing and this career choice has led to many opportunities. This profession has allowed me to use much creativity and compassion to say the least. I am honored every time a patient agrees to share their personal experiences and goals of care with me. These are the building blocks for learning, caring, seeking and educating. These building blocks provide the structure and resilience in Healthcare, allowing exemplary service where and when it is needed most. Submitted by Kristine Moeller, WA
THE EVERYDAY NURSE
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